Ethel Christensen Obituary

Ethel Christensen
Ethel Liljegren Christensen met her eternal rest on Monday after a long illness.
An only child, she was born in New York City to Steivor Iversen Liljegren and Albert Martin Liljegren on Dec. 29, 1927.
Raised in Greenwich, Conn., she was an honor student throughout high school before studying at Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School, Wilson College and Columbia University.
She was employed as a kindergarten teacher in Greenwich and later by The Greater New York Fund and The New York Public Library.
In 1951, she married Ralph Christensen at Stanwich Congregational Church in Greenwich by the Rev. Heck. Work then took them to Lancaster, where she became affiliated with The Central Pennsylvania Synod as secretary of The National Council of Churches and secretary to a body of Lutheran churches of Lancaster County.
After moving to Mountaintop, Luzerne County, she and her husband organized fundraising efforts to establish a library for students in Fairview Elementary School.
Eventually the family moved to Butler, where, in 1970, she was instrumental in establishing bookkeeping and filing for her husband's business, Filmtronics, and served as secretary/receptionist for several years.
All this aside, Ethel's heart lay in her home, where she would create a happy, loving environment for her husband and children. Creative interests through the years surrounding her family and home were sewing, oil painting, refinishing furniture, playing piano, decorating, cooking and baking.
Activities outside the home included couples and ladies' bridge and 500 card clubs, traveling and volunteering with the Women's Auxiliary at Butler Memorial Hospital.
She is survived by her husband, Ralph, of 56 years; son, Neal; daughters, Sallie C. Burtner and Stefanie (Mrs. David Fennell); and grandsons Benjamin and Seth Burtner, all of Butler; as well as an aunt, an uncle and several cousins in this country as well as in Norway and Sweden.
CHRISTENSEN - There will be no visitation. Services for Ethel Liljegren Christensen, who died Monday, April 17, 2006, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Luke's Luthern Church, Main Street, Saxonburg, with the Rev. Roger Keller officiating. Burial will be at the Saxonburg Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the donor's favorite charity or to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements are being handled by the Fox Funeral Home, Saxonburg.